ARTIST: A MONTHLY LADY'S BOOK: September 1842 - February 1843

New York: F. Quarré, 1843. First edition. General wear to edges; Corners worn through; External joints cracked at edges, though inner hinges intact; Contents very good with some toning, though most pages are quite clear, and a few pages creased at the corner.. First six issues of this short lived periodical, composing the Volume One, (there were only four more issues); 10" x 6.25" bound in red morocco with gilt fillet on the cover and spine and gilt ; name of James F. Smith and his name in pencil on recto of first cover plate; All page edges gilt; 288 pages Three illustrated plates per issue plus Volume cover which is an embossed plate, though this collection is missing the first plate of the second issue; One embossed flower plate appears hand-painted and the Contents description of it reads 'A Bouquet of Flowers, painted on an embossed ground; There is an embossed flower plate in issue six unpainted and its description does not state 'painted', so assume it was issued without color; All plates have facing tissues; Each issue has an opening page address from the editor with colored and embossed borders; Each issue also includes a piece of sheet music. Experimental in its approach to color reproduction, the editor notes, "The Engravings, Drawings and Paintings, with which ‘THE ARTIST 'will be adorned are executed by a process hitherto unknown, and by it we shall be enabled to represent Flowers, with their own brilliant tints; Landscapes with the joyous verdure of Spring, and Portraits of young and lovely women, in whose complexions will be blended the rose and lily. Avoiding the ordinary mode of clothing every subject in 'customary suits of solemn black,' our embellishments will present the gladsome hues of nature, the lively coloring of flowers, of birds, and of fashionable costumes.